Author's Claims
What is the best way to evaluate an author’s claim?
A. Accept it as true because it is written in a book.
B. Check if the claim is supported by sufficient and relevant evidence.
C. Ignore the claim and focus on personal opinions.
D. Assume the claim is correct if it agrees with your beliefs.
B – Strong claims must be backed by sufficient and relevant evidence.
Which sentence shows the most biased reasoning?
A. "Fast food contains high levels of fat and sodium."
B. "Fast food is the absolute worst thing a person can eat."
C. "Studies show fast food can contribute to weight gain."
D. "A nutritionist explains the effects of fast food on health."
B – Words like "absolute worst" show strong bias.
Which is an example of faulty reasoning?
A. "Many studies show that reading improves brain function."
B. "My uncle eats junk food and is healthy, so junk food is good for you."
C. "Most doctors recommend exercise for heart health."
D. "Students who study tend to perform better on tests."
B – One personal example doesn’t prove a general claim.
Which piece of evidence best supports an argument that "Technology improves learning"?
A. A study showing higher test scores in classrooms that use technology.
B. A teacher’s opinion that technology is helpful.
C. A student’s personal experience with online learning.
D. A list of new technological devices.
A – Research-based evidence is the strongest.
Two authors write about climate change. One focuses on rising temperatures, while the other emphasizes extreme weather events. How do their presentations differ?
A. One uses more opinions than the other.
B. They emphasize different evidence to shape their arguments.
C. They use the same evidence but reach opposite conclusions.
D. One author includes facts, and the other does not.
B – Each author highlights different evidence to shape their perspective.
An author argues that reading fiction improves empathy. Which of the following would be the strongest evidence?
A. A personal story about how the author enjoys fiction.
B. A study showing that readers of fiction score higher on empathy tests.
C. A list of the author’s favorite books.
D. A quote from a famous author about storytelling.
B – Scientific studies provide stronger evidence than opinions.
Which statement suggests an author's argument may be biased?
A. The author presents only one side of an issue.
B. The author provides multiple perspectives.
C. The author includes expert opinions from both sides.
D. The author uses statistics from multiple sources.
A – One-sided arguments often indicate bias.
An article claims, "All teenagers love social media." What makes this claim flawed?
A. It is based on emotions.
B. It is a broad generalization.
C. It is well-researched.
D. It is supported by multiple studies.
B – Words like "all" indicate a generalization.
Which statement suggests an argument is based on weak evidence?
A. "Scientists have tested this theory in multiple studies."
B. "Only one small study supports this claim."
C. "Government reports confirm this is true."
D. "Experts from multiple fields support this argument."
B – A single small study does not provide strong evidence.
Which of the following would best show two authors interpreting the same event differently?
A. One author claims a law is beneficial, while another argues it is harmful.
B. Both authors use the same statistics and agree on their meaning.
C. One author writes about an event, and another writes about a different event.
D. Both authors write about a topic using identical sources and conclusions.
A – Different interpretations of the same event demonstrate contrasting perspectives.
An author writes, "Video games improve problem-solving skills." Which piece of evidence is the weakest?
A. A study showing gamers solve puzzles faster.
B. A survey of 10,000 students reporting better problem-solving skills.
C. The author's opinion that video games are fun.
D. Research from a university on cognitive benefits.
C – Opinion is weaker than research and surveys.
Which source is likely the most objective?
A. A blog post written by a sports fan.
B. A study from a university research lab.
C. A tweet from a celebrity.
D. A company’s advertisement.
B – Academic research is usually more objective.
Which argument uses strong reasoning?
A. "Most experts agree that exercise reduces stress."
B. "I believe exercise is important, so it must be true."
C. "Everyone who exercises is happier."
D. "Some people say exercise is good, but I disagree."
A – Expert agreement adds credibility.
An author states, "People should drink eight glasses of water daily." What would be the strongest evidence for this claim?
A. A study from a health organization showing the benefits of hydration.
B. A personal story about someone feeling better after drinking water.
C. A celebrity endorsing drinking water.
D. A blog post discussing water consumption.
A – Studies from reputable sources provide the most credible evidence.
An article on school uniforms emphasizes their benefits for student focus. Another article highlights the loss of student expression. What is the key difference in their presentations?
A. One article is fact-based, and the other is fictional.
B. They use different types of sources to argue their points.
C. One article discusses focus, while the other prioritizes self-expression.
D. They both make the same argument using different words.
C – The authors focus on different aspects of the same issue.
An article states, “Homework is unnecessary because students learn best through hands-on activities in class.” Which of the following would be the strongest piece of evidence to support this claim?
A) A quote from a teacher who dislikes assigning homework.
B) A study showing that students who do hands-on activities in class score higher on tests than those who rely on homework.
C) A student’s opinion that homework is stressful and time-consuming.
D) A list of assignments given as homework in a particular school district.
B - Strong evidence must be factual and directly support the claim. A study showing improved test scores provides measurable proof that hands-on activities are beneficial, while opinions or unrelated lists do not strengthen the argument.
Which of the following statements shows bias?
A) "According to recent studies, students who read for 20 minutes a day score higher on tests."
B) "Everyone knows that the best way to succeed is to stop wasting time on social media."
C) "The data suggests that climate change is causing more extreme weather events."
D) "A survey of 1,000 teachers found that most believe homework improves learning."
B - Bias appears when an author presents a personal opinion or assumption as fact. Saying “everyone knows” is a generalization that lacks evidence, while the other choices rely on research or data.
Which statement contains a logical fallacy?
A. "Eating vegetables provides important vitamins and minerals."
B. "If you don’t eat vegetables, you will never be healthy."
C. "Many doctors recommend eating vegetables daily."
D. "Vegetables are an important part of a balanced diet."
B – The claim is an absolute and does not allow for exceptions.
Which evidence is irrelevant to an argument about increasing exercise in schools?
A. A study showing that students who exercise perform better academically.
B. A statistic on childhood obesity rates.
C. A quote from a doctor about the importance of physical activity.
D. A list of the top five video games played by students.
D – Video game popularity is unrelated to exercise in schools.
Why might two authors writing about the same historical event present different interpretations?
A. They have different perspectives and use different evidence.
B. They are required to reach the same conclusion.
C. They cannot use the same sources.
D. One must be correct, and the other must be wrong.
A – Different perspectives and source selections lead to varied interpretations.
An author argues, “Video games improve problem-solving skills.” Which of the following would weaken the author's claim?
A) A study showing that students who play video games solve puzzles faster than those who do not.
B) A statistic indicating that video game players have higher levels of creativity.
C) A research study revealing that excessive video game playing is linked to decreased attention spans.
D) A quote from a game developer explaining how games are designed to challenge players.
C - The claim suggests that video games improve problem-solving skills, but if research shows they actually harm attention spans, this could challenge the idea that they provide cognitive benefits.
Which of the following is a sign that an article may be biased?
A) It provides multiple perspectives on an issue.
B) It includes emotional language and one-sided arguments.
C) It cites reliable sources and facts.
D) It explains a topic using neutral language.
B - A biased article often uses strong emotional language and only presents one side of an issue, making it less objective. The other choices reflect fairness and factual accuracy.
An argument states, "If we allow students to use cell phones, soon they won’t listen in class at all." What type of faulty reasoning is this?
A. Hasty generalization
B. Slippery slope
C. False cause
D. Circular reasoning
B – A slippery slope assumes one action will lead to extreme consequences.
Which statement best evaluates the sufficiency of evidence in an argument?
A. "The argument is strong because it includes multiple reliable sources."
B. "The argument is true because I personally agree with it."
C. "The argument is weak because I don’t like the topic."
D. "The argument is false because I found one mistake in the text."
A – Evaluating an argument requires considering multiple reliable sources.
Two articles discuss the causes of the Great Depression. One highlights stock market speculation, while the other emphasizes banking failures. What does this suggest?
A. They present conflicting historical accounts.
B. Each author chooses different evidence to explain the event.
C. Both authors completely disagree about the Great Depression.
D. Only one of the authors is correct.
B – Different authors may emphasize different causes based on their interpretation of the event.